Imaging apparatus

ABSTRACT

In the imaging apparatus of the invention, a camera assembly  200  including a camera  202  is mounted on and supported by a base  110  in a pivotally rotatable manner in a vertical direction to allow tilting motions of the camera  202 . First through fourth rollers  141  through  144  provided in an assembly fixation structure  114  of the base  110  support the camera assembly  200  to allow pivotal rotation of the camera assembly  200 . The driving force of a tilting motor  160  built in a pedestal plate unit  130  of the assembly fixation structure  114  is transmitted to frame side faces of the camera assembly  200  via a tilting worm gear shaft  170  and a tilting rotation gear  172  to allow the tilting motions of the camera frame  200 . This arrangement of the invention enables further downsizing of the whole imaging apparatus applied to, for example, a security camera.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the priority based on Japanese PatentApplication No. 2006-190179 filed on Jul. 11, 2006, the disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus equipped with acamera rotatable at least in a vertical direction.

2. Description of the Related Art

Imaging apparatuses have diversity of applications and are used, forexample, as security cameras in various locations including banks,railway stations, supermarkets, convenience stores, and video gamearcades. With the wide spread of the Internet, another prospectiveapplication of imaging apparatuses are web cameras for video imagetransfer.

One prior art structure of a security camera device is designed to allowpivotal rotations of a camera both in a horizontal direction and in avertical direction, with a view to expanding the monitoring area (seeJapanese Utility Model Laid-Open Gazette No. H06-9264).

In the structure of this cited reference, a camera of a camera unit issupported in a vertically rotatable manner about a vertical pivot axisprovided on one side of the camera unit. A control circuit substrate isplaced on the other side of the camera unit opposite to the verticalpivot axis across the camera. This arrangement aims to downsize thewhole security camera device. However, the layout of placing thevertical pivot axis and the control circuit substrate on the opposedsides of the camera unit has certain limitation in downsizing along thewidth of the camera unit. There is still room for further size reductionof the security camera device.

SUMMARY

There is accordingly a need for further downsizing an imaging apparatusapplied to, for example, a security camera.

The present invention is directed to an imaging apparatus equipped witha camera in a pivotally rotatable manner in a vertical direction. Theimaging apparatus of the invention includes: a base that has a built-invertical rotation driving source to generate a driving force for pivotalrotation of the camera in the vertical direction; and a camera framethat holds the camera in such a manner that an imaging lens of thecamera is exposed on an arc-shaped frame side face of the camera frameto be directed to outside. A power transmission system for transmittingthe power for the pivotal rotation of the camera in the verticaldirection is provided separately from a support system for mounting andsupporting the camera frame on the base. As the power transmissionsystem, the imaging apparatus has a vertical rotation transmissionmechanism that transmits the driving force of the vertical rotationdriving source, as power of the pivotal rotation of the camera in thevertical direction, to the camera frame via the arc-shaped frame sideface. As the support system, the imaging apparatus has a pivot supportstructure that pivotally supports the camera frame on the base to allowpivotal rotation of the camera frame in the vertical direction about anaxis passing through inside of the camera frame in a direction parallelto a width of the camera frame.

The camera frame for holding the camera may have the frame side faceextended around the whole circumference but is required to have anarc-shaped frame side face covering at least a pivotally rotatable rangeof the camera in the vertical direction. One typical example of thecamera frame having the frame side face extended around the wholecircumference of the camera frame is a ring-shaped camera framesurrounding the camera. The ring-shaped camera frame may be formed in acircular ring like a doughnut-shape or may be formed in an ellipticalring or an oval ring. The camera frame has the arc-shaped frame sideface formed at the position of the pivot support by the pivot supportstructure as the arc-shaped frame side face covering the pivotallyrotatable range.

In the imaging apparatus of the invention having the configurationdescribed above, the pivot support structure placed in the basepivotally supports the camera frame on the base. The vertical rotationtransmission mechanism placed in the base transmits the driving forcefor the pivotal rotation of the camera frame in the vertical directionto the camera frame via the arc-shaped frame side face. The drivingsystem involved in the vertical pivotal rotation of the camera frameabout the axis passing through the inside of the camera frame in thedirection parallel to the width of the camera frame is accordingly notlocated in either side of the camera frame. This arrangement desirablyattains the space saving in the periphery of the camera frame.

In one preferable embodiment of the imaging apparatus of the invention,the arc-shaped frame side face of the camera frame is a circulararc-shaped frame side face about a vertical pivot axis of the cameraframe, which is identical with the axis passing through the inside ofthe camera frame in the direction parallel to the width of the cameraframe. In this embodiment, the camera frame may be formed as adoughnut-shaped or circular frame ring to surround the camera. Thedriving force is smoothly transmittable via the circular arc-shapedframe side face of the circular frame ring.

This structure of transmitting the driving force of the verticalrotation driving source to the camera frame via the circular arc-shapedframe side face about the vertical pivot axis or the axis passingthrough the inside of the camera frame in the direction parallel to thewidth of the camera frame has the advantage over a prior art mechanism.In the security camera device of the above cited reference, the cameraunit is vertically rotatable about the vertical pivot axis providedinside the camera unit. Another available structure of the securitycamera device has the vertical pivot axis provided outside the cameraunit to allow pivotal rotation of the camera unit in the verticaldirection. In the latter arrangement placing the pivot axis outside thecamera unit, the pivot axis is apart from the center of gravity of thecamera unit. A large torque is accordingly required for the pivotalrotation of the camera unit. The driving source of producing asufficiently large torque generally has large dimensions. The large-sizedriving source interferes with downsizing of the whole imagingapparatus.

In the imaging apparatus of the invention, on the other hand, thevertical pivot axis of the camera frame is provided inside the cameraframe. The vertical pivot axis of the camera frame is located on or atleast very close to the center of gravity of the camera frame. Thedriving force for the vertical pivotal rotation is transmitted to thecamera frame via the arc-shaped frame side face about this verticalpivot axis. Only a small torque is thus required for the pivotalrotation of the camera frame. This enables downsizing of the drivingsource and thereby the whole imaging apparatus.

In the imaging apparatus of the invention, the vertical pivot axis orthe axis passing through the inside of the camera frame in the directionparallel to the width of the camera frame may be located on the centerof gravity of the camera frame. This keeps the transmission moment ofthe driving force practically constant in the course of transmission ofthe driving force of the vertical rotation driving source to the cameraframe via the arc-shaped frame side face. The imaging apparatus of thisstructure has the additional advantage of stabilizing the verticalpivotal rotation of the camera frame, in addition to the downsizingeffect induced by the low required torque described above. One simpletechnique of making the vertical pivot axis of the camera frame locatedon the center of gravity of the camera frame takes into account theweight of the camera surrounded by the camera frame and adds a requiredweight to the camera frame. A built-in weight inside the camera frame isadvantageous from the design viewpoint.

In one aspect of the imaging apparatus of the invention, the verticalrotation transmission mechanism for transmission of the driving forcehas an arc-shaped frame gear train provided on the arc-shaped frame sideface of the camera frame. Teeth of the arc-shaped gear train engage withteeth of a base-side gear provided on the base. This engagement of thegear train with the base-side gear transmits the driving force of thevertical rotation driving source to the base-side gear. This arrangementensures effective transmission of the driving force of the verticalrotation driving source to the camera frame via the arc-shaped frameside face.

In another aspect of the imaging apparatus of the invention, the pivotsupport structure for pivotally supporting the camera frame on the basehas a roller that supports the camera frame on its arc-shaped frame sideface to allow pivotal rotation of the camera frame about the verticalpivot axis. The camera frame is pressed against the roller. The cameraframe is thus stably rotatable on the roller. This structure enables thesecure engagement of the teeth of the arc-shaped frame gear train withthe teeth of the base-side gear and thus ensures the effective pivotalrotation of the camera frame in the vertical direction. This structureis especially advantageous for a circular arc-shaped frame side faceformed as the arc-shaped frame side face of the camera frame.

In still another aspect of the imaging apparatus of the invention, thepivot support structure for pivotally supporting the camera frame on thebase has a pair of plates that are extended from the base to be locatedon both sides of the camera frame and support the camera frame in arotatable manner about the vertical pivot axis. The plates located onboth sides of the camera frame do not require any transmission mechanismfor transmission of the driving force. This arrangement desirablysimplifies the pivot support-related structure and requires onlythin-wall plates, thus enabling the space saving in the periphery of thecamera frame.

In one preferable structure of the imaging apparatus of this aspect,each of the pair of plates has a frame joint element at a specificposition corresponding to the vertical pivot axis of the camera frame.The camera frame is supported by the frame joint elements formed on thepair of plates to be pivotally rotatable about the frame joint elements.In another preferable structure of the imaging apparatus of this aspect,the pair of plates are attached to periphery of the arc-shaped frameside faces of the camera frame to allow pivotal rotation of the cameraframe about the vertical pivot axis.

The imaging apparatus of the invention may be designed to allow pivotalrotation of the camera frame in a horizontal direction, as well as inthe vertical direction. In the imaging apparatus having the structure ofenabling the pivotal rotation of the camera frame with the camera in thehorizontal direction, the base has: a ground plate that is placed onsurface of a supporting subject of the imaging apparatus; a pedestalplate that has the vertical rotation driving source disposed thereon, aswell as the pivot support structure and the vertical rotationtransmission mechanism incorporated therein; and a plate mountingstructure that mounts the pedestal plate on the ground plate to allowpivotal rotation of the pedestal plate in the horizontal directionrelative to the ground plate. The imaging apparatus of this structurealso includes a horizontal rotation gear that is located between theground plate and the pedestal plate linked by the plate mountingstructure. The horizontal rotation gear is attached to either ahorizontal pivot axis or the ground plate in such a manner as to changethe position of the horizontal rotation gear about the horizontal pivotaxis relative to the pedestal plate but not to change the position ofthe horizontal rotation gear about the horizontal pivot axis relative tothe ground plate. The imaging apparatus of this structure furtherincludes: a horizontal rotation driving source that generates a drivingforce for rotation of the camera frame integrally with the pedestalplate in the horizontal direction; and a horizontal rotationtransmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of thehorizontal rotation driving source to the horizontal rotation gear aspower for the pivotal rotation of the camera frame in the horizontaldirection. The horizontal rotation driving source is placed with thehorizontal rotation transmission mechanism on the pedestal plate.

In the imaging apparatus of this structure, the base has the groundplate and the pedestal plate. The pedestal plate is mounted on theground plate by the plate mounting structure to allow pivotal rotationof the pedestal plate in the horizontal direction relative to the groundplate. The pivot support structure and the vertical rotationtransmission mechanism related to the support and the vertical pivotalrotation of the camera frame are provided on the pedestal plate. Thisarrangement enables the pivotal rotation of the camera frame with thecamera in the vertical direction, as well as the pivotal rotation of thecamera frame integrally with the pedestal plate in the horizontaldirection relative to the ground plate. The power of the horizontalpivotal rotation is transmitted from the horizontal rotation drivingsource to the horizontal rotation gear by means of the horizontalrotation transmission mechanism. The horizontal rotation gear isattached either to the horizontal pivot axis of the pedestal plate or tothe ground plate. The position of the horizontal rotation gear about thehorizontal pivot axis changes relative to the pedestal plate, but doesnot change relative to the ground plate. The horizontal rotation drivingsource and the horizontal rotation transmission mechanism fortransmission of the driving force to the horizontal rotation gear arerotated integrally with the pedestal plate about the horizontal pivotaxis. The camera frame including the camera arranged in the verticallyrotatable manner is thus rotated integrally with the pedestal plate inthe horizontal direction relative to the ground plate. In the imagingapparatus of this structure, the camera frame with the camera isrotatable both in the vertical direction and in the horizontaldirection, where the driving sources and the rotation transmissionmechanisms required for the vertical and horizontal rotations are allcollectively located in the base.

The horizontal rotation driving source and the horizontal rotationtransmission mechanism involved in the horizontal pivotal rotation ofthe camera frame are arranged independently of the pivot support-relatedstructure for the pivot support of the camera frame on the pedestalplate of the base and of the vertical rotation-related structure for thevertical rotation of the camera frame. The horizontal rotation-relatedstructure thus does not affect the space-saving and downsizing effectsof the pivot support-related structure and the vertical rotation-relatedstructure. The imaging apparatus of this structure thus enables thepivotal rotation of the camera frame including the camera both in thevertical direction and in the horizontal direction, while attaining thespace-saving and downsizing effects on the periphery of the cameraframe.

In one preferable application, the horizontal rotation driving sourceand the vertical rotation driving source are arranged in the attitudehaving the respective output axis s in the horizontal direction and aredisposed to face each other across the plate mounting structure on thepedestal plate. This arrangement gives the good weight balance to thepedestal plate and accordingly stabilizes the horizontal rotation of thecamera frame. The driving source generally has the greater length in thedirection of the output shaft than the length in the directionperpendicular to the output shaft. The arrangement of the two drivingsources in the attitude having the respective output shafts in thehorizontal direction accordingly has the space-saving effect. Thisconcentrated arrangement contributes to the further downsizing of thebase.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an imaging apparatus as anapplication of a security camera in one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the imaging apparatus of the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a camera assembly of the imagingapparatus tilted to an upper-most end in a vertical movable range;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the camera assembly tilted to alower-most end in the vertical movable range;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the camera assembly panned to onefurther-most end in a horizontal movable range;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the camera assembly panned to theother further-most end in the horizontal movable range;

FIG. 7 is a decomposed perspective view showing the pivotsupport-related structure of a camera assembly and a base in the imagingapparatus of the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a decomposed perspective view showing an assembly fixationstructure related to the pivot support of the camera assembly;

FIG. 9 is a decomposed perspective view showing a main part of panningmotion-related construction in the assembly fixation structure of thebase;

FIG. 10 shows the pivot support of the camera assembly;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the essential part of the pivotsupport of the camera assembly;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the electricalconfiguration of the imaging apparatus of the embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an imaging apparatus in a firstmodified example;

FIG. 14 is a side view showing the imaging apparatus of the firstmodified example;

FIG. 15 is a decomposed perspective view showing the pivotsupport-related structure of the camera assembly and the base in theimaging apparatus of the first modified example;

FIG. 16 is a partly sectional view showing the pivot support of thecamera assembly in the imaging apparatus of the first modified example;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing an imaging apparatus in a secondmodified example;

FIG. 18 is a side view showing the imaging apparatus of the secondmodified example;

FIG. 19 is a decomposed perspective view showing the pivotsupport-related structure of the camera assembly and the base in theimaging apparatus of the second modified example;

FIG. 20 is a partly sectional view showing the pivot support of thecamera assembly in the imaging apparatus of the second modified example;and

FIG. 21 is a side view showing a camera assembly having a frame casingof a different structure in an imaging apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

One mode of carrying out the invention is described below as a preferredembodiment with reference to the accompanied drawings. The descriptionfirst regards the general overview and the operations of an imagingapparatus 100 as an application of a security camera in one embodimentof the invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an imagingapparatus 100 as application of a security camera in one embodiment ofthe invention. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the imaging apparatus 100of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a cameraassembly 200 of the imaging apparatus 100 tilted to an upper-most end ina vertical movable range. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing thecamera assembly 200 tilted to a lower-most end in the vertical movablerange. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the camera assembly 200panned to one further-most end in a horizontal movable range. FIG. 6 isa perspective view showing the camera assembly 200 panned to the otherfurther-most end in the horizontal movable range.

With reference to FIGS. 1 through 6, the imaging apparatus 100 isdesigned to have an extended imaging range as the application of thesecurity camera. The imaging apparatus 100 is tilted to be rotatable inits vertical direction and is panned to be rotatable in its horizontaldirection. The imaging apparatus 100 has a base 110 placed on a table oranother supporting subject and a camera assembly 200 mounted on the base110. The base 110 includes a base foot 112 to be directly placed on thesupporting subject and an upper assembly fixation structure 114 mountedon the base foot 112. The assembly fixation structure 114 is placed onthe base foot 112 to be rotatable relative to the base foot 112 in thehorizontal direction by a driving mechanism (described later). The basefoot 112 has a side cover 116 that is formed along the wholecircumference, and a display element 113 that is located on its frontcenter and uses a light emitting device or LED to show the currentdriving status of the imaging apparatus 100. The display element 113 issurrounded by an infrared light-receiving element 115. The assemblyfixation structure 114 has hemispherical left and right cover splits117L and 117R that are respectively formed along half the circumferenceas top-to-side covers. The assembly fixation structure 114 is rotatabletogether with these cover splits 117L and 117R in the horizontaldirection relative to the base foot 112. A rear side of the base foot112 has a connector area used for signal transmission to and fromoutside equipment as explained later.

The camera assembly 200 has a doughnut-shaped frame casing 210 and a CCDcamera 202. The camera 202 is supported and surrounded by the framecasing 210 to be located in a hollow space formed by the frame casing210. In the camera assembly 200, an imaging lens 203 of the camera 202is exposed on the side face of the frame casing 210 to be directed tothe outside. The camera assembly 200 is pivotally supported on theassembly fixation structure 114 to be rotatable in the verticaldirection relative to the assembly fixation structure 114 as describedlater. A vertical pivot axis TJ of the camera assembly 200 passesthrough the inside of the camera assembly 200 in a direction parallel tothe width of the frame casing 210. The vertical pivot axis TJ is thecentral axis of the doughnut-shaped frame casing 210. The vertical pivotaxis TJ is arranged on or at least very close to the center of gravityof the camera assembly 200 including the camera 202. In the structure ofthis embodiment, the frame casing 210 has a certain internal weight W(see FIG. 10) on the opposite side to the camera 202 to locate thevertical pivot axis TJ or the central axis of the doughnut-shaped framecasing 210 on the center of gravity of the camera assembly 200 includingthe camera 202.

In the imaging apparatus 100 having the base 110 and the camera assembly200 as described above, the camera assembly 200 including the camera 202is tilted in the vertical direction from the initial attitude of FIG. 1in a vertical angle range of approximately 30 degrees as shown in FIGS.3 and 4. The camera assembly 200 together with the assembly fixationstructure 114 is panned in the horizontal direction relative to the basefoot 112 from the initial attitude of FIG. 1 in a horizontal angle rangeof approximately 90 degrees as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The following description regards the structure of allowing such tiltingand panning motions of the camera assembly 200. FIG. 7 is a decomposedperspective view showing the pivot support-related structure of thecamera assembly 200 and the base 110 in the imaging apparatus 100 of theembodiment. FIG. 8 is a decomposed perspective view showing the assemblyfixation structure 114 related to the pivot support of the cameraassembly 200. FIG. 9 is a decomposed perspective view showing a mainpart of panning motion-related construction in the assembly fixationstructure 114 of the base 110.

With reference to FIGS. 7 through 9, the base foot 112 of the base 110has a ground plate unit 120 and the side cover 116 surrounding thecircumference of the ground plate unit 120. The ground plate unit 120has a lower ground plate 121 and an upper base plate 122, which arearranged to face each other and are fixed to each other as shown in FIG.9. The ground plate 121 functions as the skeleton of the base foot 112of the base 110 and is fixed to the side cover 116 to be directly placedon the surface of the table or the supporting subject via feet or legs(not shown) on its bottom face. The base plate 122 is fixed to theground plate 121 across a predetermined interval and has variouselectronic devices on its peripheral area in such a manner that has nointerference with a pedestal plate unit 130 described below.

The assembly fixation structure 114 of the base 110 includes thepedestal plate unit 130 and the left and right cover splits 117L and117R covering over the pedestal plate unit 130. The pedestal plate unit130 has a lower motor fixation plate 131 and an upper pedestal plate132, which are arranged perpendicular to each other as shown in FIGS. 7and 8. The pedestal plate 132 functions as the skeleton of the assemblyfixation structure 114 of the base 110 and is related to the pivotsupport of the camera assembly 200. The pedestal plate 132 isconstructed as described below to be involved in the pivot support ofthe camera assembly 200.

The pedestal plate 132 has a recessed center as a locking plate area 133and left and right ends as attachment areas 134 for a spring unit 150(described later). The locking plate area 133 of the pedestal plate 132has an insertion hole 136 for receiving a pivot shaft fitting element135 of the motor fixation plate 131 inserted therein. First throughfourth rollers 141 through 144 are located on the respective stems ofthe attachment areas 134 to be protruded upright from the upper faces ofthe attachment areas 134. The first roller 141 and the second roller 142are aligned to form one roller array, while the third roller 143 and thefourth roller 144 are aligned to form the other roller array. The rollerarray of the first roller 141 and the second roller 142 and the rollerarray of the third roller 143 and the fourth roller 144 respectivelysupport the camera assembly 200 on the side faces of the frame casing210. The first roller 141 is attached to the pedestal plate 132 via aspring base 145 to be elastically lifted up and down.

The spring unit 150 attached to the attachment areas 134 of the pedestalplate 132 includes left and right fixation areas 151 and a central flatplate area 152. The flat plate area 152 is joined with the left andright fixation areas 151 by means of bent spring legs 153 as joints. Thespring unit 150 has a pressure roller 154 that is mounted on the rearface of the flat plate area 152 via a roller box 155 to allow freerotations. The spring unit 150 is arranged to be extended across thecamera assembly 200 and is fixed to the attachment areas 134 of thepedestal plate 132, so that the pressure roller 154 on the flat platearea 152 presses the inner circumferential faces of the frame casing 210in the camera assembly 200. The camera assembly 200 is pivotallysupported on the pedestal plate unit 130 of the assembly fixationstructure 114 of the base 110 as described below. FIG. 10 shows thepivot support of the camera assembly 200. FIG. 11 is a perspective viewshowing the essential part of the pivot support of the camera assembly200.

As shown in FIG. 11, the camera assembly 200 has step-like rollercontact edges 211 formed along the outer circumference on both sides ofthe frame casing 210. One of the roller contact edges 211 forms oneroller contact circumference in contact with the first roller 141 andthe second roller 142 of the roller array. The other roller contact edge211 forms the other roller contact circumference in contact with thethird roller 143 and the fourth roller 144 of the roller array. As shownin FIG. 10, the outer circumferential faces of the frame casing 210 inthe camera assembly 200 are supported by the first through the fourthrollers 141 through 144 and are pressed toward the first through thefourth rollers 141 through 144 by means of the spring legs 153 and thepressure roller 154 of the spring unit 150. The camera assembly 200 isthus movable about the vertical pivot axis TJ on the center of the outercircumferential faces of the frame casing 210. In this embodiment, thefirst through the fourth rollers 141 through 144 on the pedestal plate132 and the spring unit 150 including the pressure roller 154 form thepivot support structure for supporting the camera assembly 200 on thepedestal plate 132 of the assembly fixation structure 114 of the base110 to be pivotally movable about the vertical pivot axis TJ of thecamera 202 or the central axis passing through the inside of the cameraassembly 200 in the direction parallel to the width of the frame casing210.

The first roller 141 is elastically lifted up and down by the springbase 145. Even when the roller faces of the first rollers 141 through144 are not completely leveled in the free state, this elastic actionenables the camera assembly 200 to be tilted and pivotally movable inthe vertical direction without inclination to the left or to the right.The first through the fourth rollers 141 through 144 are in contact withthe step-like roller contact edges 211 formed along the outercircumference on both sides of the frame casing 210. This structureeffectively prevents the leftward or rightward positional displacementduring the tilting motion of the camera assembly 200. The first throughthe fourth rollers 141 through 144 and the spring unit 150 are coveredwith the left and right cover splits 117L and 117R fixed to the pedestalplate 132. The left and right cover splits 117L and 117R respectivelyhave curved projections 118L and 118R that are protruded from the topfaces of the cover splits 117L and 117R and are extended along the rearcircumferential face of the camera assembly 200.

The following description regards the driving source for the tilting andpanning motions of the camera assembly 200 and a relevant driving forcetransmission mechanism. In the pedestal plate unit 130 of the base 110,a tilting motor 160 and a panning motor 162 are set on the motorfixation plate 131. The tilting motor 160 and the panning motor 162 areboth servo motors and are rotated in the normal direction or in thereverse direction according to the input number of pulses.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the motor fixation plate 131 fixed to thepedestal plate 132 of the pedestal plate unit 130 is U-shaped andincludes a mounting plate 163 and two upright motor attachment plates164 and 165 that are located on both ends of the mounting plate 163 toface each other across the mounting plate 163. The tilting motor 160 isattached to the motor attachment plate 164 in the illustrated attitudeto have its output shaft in the horizontal direction. The panning motor162 is attached to the other motor attachment plate 165 in theillustrated attitude to have its output shaft in the horizontaldirection.

A driving force transmission mechanism is built in each of the motorattachment plates 164 and 165 to transmit the driving force of thecorresponding motor 160 or 162. A tilting worm gear shaft 170 for thetilting motion is supported in a freely rotatable manner on one end ofthe motor fixation plate 131. The driving force of the tilting motor 160is transmitted through a pulley-timing belt transmission mechanism 171to the tilting worm gear shaft 170. The tilting worm gear shaft 170 hasthreads engaging with teeth of a tilting rotation gear 172. The drivingforce of the tilting motor 160 is thus transmitted to the tiltingrotation gear 172 via the transmission mechanism 171 and the tiltingworm gear shaft 170. The tilting rotation gear 172 rotates in the normaldirection or in the reverse direction with the rotation of the tiltingmotor 160.

The tilting rotation gear 172 engages with a mating element of thecamera assembly 200. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the camera assembly200 has an arc-shaped frame gear train 220 formed along the outercircumference of the frame casing 210 about the vertical pivot axis TJ.In the pivot support state of the camera assembly 200 by means of thefirst through the fourth rollers 141 through 144 and the spring unit150, the arc-shaped frame gear train 220 engages with the tiltingrotation gear 172. The driving force of the tilting motor 160 goesthrough the transmission mechanism 171, the tilting worm gear shaft 170,the tilting rotation gear 172, and the arch-shaped frame gear train 220and is eventually transmitted along the outer circumference of the framecasing 210 about the vertical pivot axis TJ to the camera assembly 200as the power for the pivotal motions of the camera 202. The transmissionmechanism 171, the tilting worm gear shaft 170, the tilting rotationgear 172, and the arch-shaped frame gear train 220 constitute thevertical rotation transmission unit of the invention. The cameraassembly 200 including the camera 202 is rotated in the normal directionor in the reverse direction about the vertical pivot axis TJ as shown bya two-headed arrow X in FIG. 10.

The mounting plate 163 of the motor fixation plate 131 has an insertionhole 166 of an identical shape with the shape of the insertion hole 136formed in the locking plate area 133 of the pedestal plate 132. Theinsertion hole 166 is located between the two motor attachment plates164 and 165. The pivot shaft fitting element 135 is inserted through andfitted in the insertion hole 136 of the pedestal plate 132 and theinsertion hole 166 of the motor fixation plate 131 in the pedestal plateunit 130. The pivot shaft fitting element 135 has a through hole 135 ato receive a horizontal pivot shaft 125 inserted therein. The horizontalpivot shaft 125 is protruded from the ground plate 121 included in thebase foot 112 of the base 110. The pivot shaft fitting element 135enables the pivot support of the motor fixation plate 131 and thepedestal plate 132 and thereby the whole pedestal plate unit 130 aboutthe horizontal pivot shaft 125. The pivot shaft fitting element 135supports the pedestal plate unit 130 including the motor fixation plate131 and the pedestal plate 132 to allow the rotation of the pedestalplate unit 130 in the horizontal direction relative to the ground plate121 of the base foot 112. The tilting motor 160 and the panning motor162 respectively attached to the motor attachment plates 164 and 165 arearranged in the attitude having the respective output shafts in thehorizontal direction and are disposed to face each other across thepivot shaft fitting element 135 in the pedestal plate unit 130. Theassembly fixation structure 114 including the pedestal plate unit 130with the tilting motor 160 and the panning motor 162 is one part of thebase 110. Namely the base 110 has the built-in tilting motor 160 and thebuilt-in panning motor 162.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a panning worm gear shaft 173 for the panningmotion is supported in a freely rotatable manner on the other end of themotor fixation plate 131. The driving force of the panning motor 162 istransmitted through a pulley-timing belt transmission mechanism 174 tothe panning worm gear shaft 173. The panning worm gear shaft 173 hasthreads engaging with teeth of a panning rotation gear 175 provided inthe base foot 112. The panning rotation gear 175 is fixed to the groundplate 121 of the base foot 112 to be concentric with the horizontalpivot shaft 125 protruded from the ground plate 121 as shown in FIG. 9.A fitting plate 176 is used for fixation of the panning rotation gear175 to the ground plate 121.

The panning rotation gear 175 fixed to the ground plate 121 isinterposed between the ground plate 121 and the pedestal plate unit 130supported via the pivot shaft fitting element 135. The teeth formed onthe outer circumference of the panning rotation gear 175 engage with thethreads on the panning worm gear shaft 173 of the motor fixation plate131 in the pedestal plate unit 130, which is supported on the groundplate 121 via the pivot shaft fitting element 135 to be rotatable in thehorizontal direction. The driving force of the panning motor 162 placedon the motor fixation plate 131 of the pedestal plate unit 130 isaccordingly transmitted to the panning rotation gear 175 by means of thetransmission mechanism 174 and the panning worm gear shaft 173.

The panning rotation gear 175 is fixed to the ground plate 121, whilethe pedestal plate unit 130 is rotatable about the horizontal pivotshaft 125 relative to the ground plate 121. With the rotation of thepanning motor 162, the pedestal plate unit 130 rotates in the horizontaldirection about the panning rotation gear 175, that is, about thehorizontal pivot shaft 125. The driving force of the panning motor 162is thus transmitted to the pedestal plate unit 130 and thereby to thepanning rotation gear 175 as the power for the horizontal pivotalmotions of the camera assembly 200 supported on the pedestal plate unit130. The rotation of the pedestal plate unit 130 about the panningrotation gear 175 accompanied with the rotation of the panning motor 162changes the position of the panning rotation gear 175 relative to thepedestal plate unit 130 about the horizontal pivot shaft 125, while notchanging the position of the panning rotation gear 175 relative to theground plate 121 about the horizontal pivot shaft 125.

The camera assembly 200 has an additional structure involved in thetilting and panning motions of the camera 202. The base foot 112 of thebase 110 is placed on the table or another supporting subject and is notrotated in the horizontal direction. A panning motion sensor 126 (seeFIG. 9) is provided on the base plate 122 to specify a forward end and abackward end of the horizontal pivotal motion of the assembly fixationstructure 114 with the camera assembly 200. The panning motion sensor126 has a proximity sensor placed in its opening. A forward enddetection piece 129F (see FIG. 12) for detecting the forward end of thepanning motion and a backward end detection piece 129B (see FIG. 12) fordetecting the backward end of the panning motion are formed on thebottom of the pedestal plate 132 in the pedestal plate unit 130. Thepanning motion sensor 126 outputs a signal representing the forward endof the panning motion or a signal representing the backward end of thepanning motion, in response to insertion of the corresponding detectionpiece 129F or 129B into the opening. A tilting motion sensor 138 (seeFIG. 7) is provided on the pedestal plate 132 of the pedestal plate unit130 included in the assembly fixation structure 114 of the base 110,which supports the camera assembly 200 to allow the tilting motions orthe vertical pivotal motions. The tilting motion sensor 138 has aproximity sensor placed in its opening. The tilting motion sensor 138outputs a signal representing a forward end of the tilting motion or asignal representing the backward end of the tilting motion, in responseto insertion of a forward end detection piece 222F or a backward enddetection piece 222B formed on the frame casing 211 of the cameraassembly 200 (see FIG. 11).

FIG. 12 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the electricalconfiguration of the imaging apparatus 100 of the embodiment. Theimaging apparatus 100 has a controller 300 to control the operations ofthe whole imaging apparatus 100. The controller 300 is a computer systemincluding a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM and is connected with an outsideintegrated control unit and various monitor units to allow signaltransmission. The imaging apparatus 100 has a dc (direct current) sourceconnector 302, an input connector 304 and an output connector 306 toreceive and send control signals (signals in conformity with the RS-232Cstandard) from and to the integrated control unit, a video signal (Svideo signal) output connector 308, and a video signal (RCA signal)output connector 310 at the rear end of the base foot 112. Thecontroller 300 is connected with these connectors 302 to 310.

The controller 300 works as, for example, a power circuit, a videosignal output circuit, a motor driving circuit, and an LED lightemission circuit. The power circuit controls application of a dc voltagesupplied via the dc source connector 302 to the camera 202 and themotors 160 and 162. The video signal output circuit controls output ofimaging signals taken by the camera 202 to the outside via the S videosignal output connector 308 and the RCA signal output connector 310. Themotor driving circuit drives the tilting motor 160 and the panning motor162 in response to signals from the infrared light-receiving element 115receiving infrared signals from a remote control R or in response tocontrol signals input via the input connector 304 and controls thetilting motions and the panning motions of the camera 202. The LED lightemission circuit controls on and off the display on the display unit 113in response to power on and off signals. The electronic devices of thecontrol circuit 300 are placed on the periphery of the base plate 122 ofthe base foot 112 to have no interference with the horizontal pivotalmotions of the pedestal plate unit 130 as mentioned previously.

The imaging apparatus 100 of the embodiment has the followingadvantages. In the imaging apparatus 100 of the embodiment, the tiltingmotor 160 as the driving source for the tilting motions of the camera202 of the camera assembly 200 is located on the pedestal plate unit 130of the assembly fixation structure 114 of the base 110. The camera 202is surrounded by the frame casing 210 to have the imaging lens 203exposed on the side face of the frame casing 210 and directed to theoutside. The driving force transmission mechanism of the tilting motor160 for the tilting motions of the camera 202 is separated from thepivot support-related structure to allow the tilting motions of thecamera assembly 200 including the camera 202.

The transmission mechanism 171, the tilting worm gear shaft 170, and thetilting rotation gear 172 involved in transmission of the driving forceof the tilting motor 160 are built in the assembly fixation structure114 of the base 110 (more specifically set on the motor fixation plate131 of the pedestal plate unit 130), independently of the pivotsupport-related structure of the camera assembly 200. The arc-shapedframe gear train 220 (see FIGS. 10 and 11) formed along the outercircumference of the doughnut-shaped frame casing 210 of the cameraassembly 200 engages with the tilting rotation gear 172 formed on thepedestal plate unit 130 for transmission of the driving force of thetilting motor 160. The camera assembly 200 including the doughnut-shapedframe casing 210 is pivotally supported to allow the tilting motionsabout the vertical pivot axis TJ. The first through the fourth rollers141 through 144 and the spring unit 150 involved in the pivot supportare built in the assembly fixation structure 114 of the base 110 (morespecifically set on the pedestal plate 132 of the pedestal plate unit130), independently of the above elements involved in transmission ofthe driving force. The rollers 141 through 144 allow the pivotalrotations or the tilting motions of the camera assembly 200.

In the imaging apparatus 100 of the embodiment described above, thecamera assembly 200 is pivotally supported on the assembly fixationstructure 114 of the base 110 by means of the first through the fourthrollers 141 through 144 and the spring unit 150 provided in the assemblyfixation structure 114, so as to allow the tilting motions of the cameraassembly 200 including the camera 202. This pivot support is thuseffectuated on the side of the assembly fixation structure 114. In thisimaging apparatus 100 of the embodiment, neither the pivotsupport-related elements for the pivot support of the camera assembly200 on the base 110 about the vertical pivot axis TJ nor the elementsinvolved in transmission of the driving force are located over the sidefaces of the frame casing 210 in the camera assembly 200. Thisarrangement desirably accomplishes the space-saving on the side faces ofthe camera assembly 200. As shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, only the lowerportion of the camera assembly 200 is pivotally supported and mounted onthe base 110, so that the camera assembly 200 is mostly exposed to theoutside and has the free lateral space.

The first through the fourth rollers 141 through 144 and the spring unit150 provided in the assembly fixation structure 114 pivotally supportthe camera assembly 200 on the circumferential faces of the frame casing210. The central axis of the doughnut-shaped frame casing 210 of thecamera assembly 200 is the vertical pivot axis TJ. The vertical pivotaxis TJ is arranged on or at least very close to the center of gravityof the camera assembly 200 that is vertically rotatable to allow thetilting motions of the camera 202. The driving force for the tiltingmotions is transmitted via the arc-shaped frame gear train 220 to thecamera assembly 200. This arrangement for the driving force transmissionenables a decrease in motor torque required for the tilting motions ofthe camera assembly 200. The decreasing motor torque reduces therequired power of the tilting motor 160 and accordingly has thedownsizing and space-saving effects on the tilting motor 160 and thewhole imaging apparatus 100. In the structure of this embodiment, thevertical pivot axis TJ is located on the center of gravity of the cameraassembly 200. This keeps the transmission moment of the driving forcepractically constant in the course of transmission of the driving forceof the tilting motor 160 to the camera assembly 200 via the arc-shapedframe gear train 220. The structure of the embodiment thus stabilizesthe tilting motions of the camera assembly 200, in addition to thereduction of the required motor torque.

The engagement of the arc-shaped frame gear train 220 formed along theouter circumference of the frame casing 210 with the tilting rotationgear 172 is utilized for transmission of the driving force to the cameraassembly 200. This arrangement desirably enhances the reliability of thedriving force transmission and thereby the reliability of the tiltingoperations of the camera assembly 200 including the camera 202. Thecamera assembly 200 is pressed against the first through the fourthrollers 141 through 144 by means of the spring unit 150, so as to ensurethe secure engagement of the arc-shaped frame gear train 220 with thetilting rotation gear 172. This also assures the stable tilting motionsof the camera assembly 200 including the camera 202.

In the pivot support of the camera assembly 200 on the assembly fixationstructure 114, the camera assembly 200 is allowed to have rollingmotions by the first through the fourth rollers 141 through 144 built inthe assembly fixation structure 114, while being pressed against thefirst through the fourth rollers 141 through 144 by the spring unit 150built in the assembly fixation structure 114. The camera assembly 200 isthus stably rotatable on the first through the fourth rollers 141through 144. This ensures stable tilting motions of the camera assembly200 including the camera 202. The first roller 141 is elastically liftedup and down by the spring base 145. This elastic action enables thecamera assembly 200 to be tilted and pivotally movable in the verticaldirection without inclination to the left or to the right. The camera202 can thus be positioned just in front of a subject for imaging.

The first through the fourth rollers 141 through 144 are arranged to bein contact with the step-like roller contact edges 211 formed along theouter circumference on both sides of the frame casing 210. Thisstructure effectively prevents the leftward or rightward positionaldisplacement during the tilting motion of the camera assembly 200. Thisarrangement is also advantageous for positioning the camera 202 just infront of a subject for imaging.

In the imaging apparatus 100 of the embodiment, the camera assembly 200including the camera 202 is vertically movable to have the tiltingmotions and is also horizontally movable to have the panning motions. Asthe panning motion-related structure, the base 110 as the object of thepivot support of the camera assembly 200 has the assembly fixationstructure 114 separately formed with the base foot 112, which is placedon the table or another supporting subject. The base foot 112 has theground plate 121 that is directly placed on the surface of the table oranother supporting subject. The assembly fixation structure 114 has thepedestal plate unit 130. The tilting motor 160 as the driving source ofthe tilting motions and the panning motor 162 as the driving source ofthe panning motions are both located on the motor fixation plate 131 ofthe pedestal plate unit 130. The pedestal plate unit 130 also includesthe pivot shaft fitting element 135 that attains the pivot support ofthe pedestal plate unit 130 on the ground plate 121 to allow therotation of the pedestal plate unit 130 in the horizontal directionrelative to the ground plate 121, and the transmission mechanisms 171and 174 and the other relevant elements that are involved intransmission of the driving forces of the tilting motor 160 and thepanning motor 162. The panning rotation gear 175 for transmission of thedriving force of the panning motor 162 is set on the ground plate 121 tobe located between the pedestal plate unit 130 and the ground plate 121connected by means of the pivot shaft fitting element 135. The panningrotation gear 175 is fixed to the ground plate 121. This arrangementchanges the position of the panning rotation gear 175 relative to thepedestal plate unit 130 about the horizontal pivot shaft 125.

This panning motion-related structure enables the camera assembly 200 tobe rotated in the horizontal direction integrally with the assemblyfixation structure 114 including the pedestal plate unit 130 relative tothe base foot 112 including the ground plate 121. The camera assembly200 including the camera 202 is thus rotatable both in the verticaldirection to be tilted and in the horizontal direction to be panned. Thetilting motor 160 and the panning motor 162 as the driving sources ofthe tilting motions and the panning motors of the camera 202, as well asthe transmission mechanisms 171 and 174 and the other relevant elementsfor the driving force transmission are collectively arranged in theassembly fixation structure 114 of the base 110.

The panning motor 162, the transmission mechanism 174, and the panningworm gear shaft 173 involved in the panning motions of the cameraassembly 200 are independent of the pivot support structure for thepivot support of the camera assembly 200 on the pedestal plate unit 130and of the tilting motion-related structure for the tilting motions ofthe camera assembly 200. The panning motion-related structureaccordingly does not affect the pivot support structure or the drivingforce transmission structure for the tilting motions of the cameraassembly 200. This arrangement desirably exerts the space-saving effectin the periphery of the camera assembly 200 and ensures the smoothtilting and panning motions of the camera 202 set in the camera assembly200.

The tilting motion-related structure and the panning motion-relatedstructure for the tilting motions and the panning motions of the cameraassembly 200 are collectively provided in the pedestal plate unit 130.In this concentrated arrangement, the panning rotation gear 175 is seton the ground plate 121 of the base foot 112 to be located between thepedestal plate unit 130 and the ground plate 121. The panning rotationgear 175 accordingly does not restrict the concentrated arrangement inthe pedestal plate unit 130. In the imaging apparatus 100 of theembodiment, the concentrated arrangement in the pedestal plate unit 130enables the two driving sources for the tilting motions and for thepanning motions to be located on substantially the same plane in thehorizontal direction. This has the space-saving effect on the pedestalplate unit 130 and enables downsizing of the whole imaging apparatus100.

The tilting motor 160 and the panning motor 162 are arranged in theattitude having the respective output shafts in the horizontal directionand are placed to face each other across the pivot shaft fitting element135 on the motor fixation plate 131 of the pedestal plate unit 130 (seeFIGS. 7 through 9). This arrangement of the motors 160 and 162 gives thegood weight balance to the pedestal plate unit 130 and accordinglystabilizes the panning motions of the camera assembly 200. The motorgenerally has the greater length in the direction of the output shaftthan the length in the direction perpendicular to the output shaft. Thearrangement of the two motors 160 and 162 on the horizontal plane in theattitude having the respective output shafts in the horizontal directionaccordingly has the space-saving effect. This concentrated arrangementcontributes to the further downsizing of the base 110.

The structure of the imaging apparatus 100 of the embodiment may bemodified in various ways. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing animaging apparatus 100A in a first modified example. FIG. 14 is a sideview showing the imaging apparatus 100A of the first modified example.FIG. 15 is a decomposed perspective view showing the pivotsupport-related structure of the camera assembly 200 and the base 100 inthe imaging apparatus 100A of the first modified example. FIG. 16 is apartly sectional view showing the pivot support of the camera assembly200 in the imaging apparatus 100A of the first modified example.

With reference to FIGS. 13 through 16, the imaging apparatus 100A of thefirst modified example is characteristic of the direct pivot support ofthe camera assembly 200 about the vertical pivot axis TJ on its center.The camera assembly 200 has pivotal support holes 230 formed in therespective side faces of the casing of the camera 202. A bearing 232 isset in each of the pivotal support holes 230. The pivotal support holes230 are located on the center of the camera assembly 200 and arearranged on or at least very close to the center of gravity of thecamera frame 200.

In the imaging apparatus 100A of the first modified example, the panningmotion-related structure and the driving source and the driving forcetransmission mechanism for the tilting motions provided in the assemblyfixation structure 114 of the base 110 are identical with those in theimaging apparatus 100 of the embodiment. The first through the fourthrollers 141 through 144 and the sprint unit 150 for the pivot support ofthe camera assembly 200 in the imaging apparatus 100 of the embodimentare replaced by a pair of assembly holding plates 234L and 234R in theimaging apparatus 100A of the first modified example. The assemblyholding plates 234L and 234R are protruded upright from the left andright cover splits 117L and 117R of the assembly fixation structure 114to hold the camera assembly 200 therebetween. Reinforcement ribs 235 areformed on the respective inner walls of the assembly holding plates 234Land 234R facing the camera assembly 200. The reinforcement ribs 235enable the assembly holding plates 234L and 234R to rigidly support thecamera assembly 200 without deflection. Each of the assembly holdingplates 234L and 234R has a projection 236 on the upper end of thereinforcement rib 235. The projection 236 has a pivotal supportprotrusion end 237, which is fitted in the pivotal support hole 230formed in each side face of the camera assembly 200. The projection 236is reinforced by the reinforcement rib 238.

In the imaging apparatus 100A of the first modified example, the leftand right cover splits 117L and 117R are set on the pedestal plate unit130 of the assembly fixation structure 114 in such a manner that thepivotal support protrusion ends 237 of the assembly holding plates 234Land 234R are respectively fitted in the pivotal support holes 230 on theside faces of the camera assembly 200. The assembly holding plates 234Land 234R facing each other across the camera assembly 200 pivotallysupport the camera assembly 200 to allow its pivotal rotation in thevertical direction about the pivotal support holes 230, while joiningthe camera assembly 200 with the base 110. The camera assembly 200pivotally supported on the base 110 is vertically rotatable to have thetilting motions by the combination of the arc-shaped frame gear train220 with the tilting rotation gear 172 and is horizontally rotatable tohave the panning motions in the same manner as the imaging apparatus 100of the embodiment described above. In the imaging apparatus 100A of thismodified structure, the assembly holding plates 234L and 234R placedacross the camera assembly 200 do not require the driving forcetransmission mechanism for the tilting motions. This arrangementdesirably simplifies the pivot support structure for the tilting motionsof the camera assembly 200 and requires only the two thin assemblyholding plates 234L and 234R reinforced with the reinforcement ribs 235.These thin assembly holding plates 234L and 234R placed on both sides ofthe camera assembly 200 desirably exert the space-saving effect in theperiphery of the camera assembly 200. The assembly holding plates 234Land 234R have the pivotal support protrusion ends 237 of the projections236 that are in contact with or in proximity to the respective sidefaces of the casing of the camera 202. This arrangement ensures thestable tilting motions of the camera assembly 200 without inclination.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing an imaging apparatus 100B in asecond modified example. FIG. 18 is a side view showing the imagingapparatus 100B of the second modified example. FIG. 19 is a decomposedperspective view showing the pivot support-related structure of thecamera assembly 200 and the base 100 in the imaging apparatus 100B ofthe second modified example. FIG. 20 is a partly sectional view showingthe pivot support of the camera assembly 200 in the imaging apparatus100B of the second modified example.

With reference to FIGS. 17 through 20, the imaging apparatus 100B of thesecond modified example is characteristic of the circumferential pivotsupport of the camera assembly 200 about the vertical pivot axis TJ onits center. The camera assembly 200 has circumferential steps 240 formedalong the outer circumference on both sides of the frame casing 210. Thecircumferential steps 240 are used for the pivot support of the cameraassembly 200 about the vertical pivot axis TJ.

In the imaging apparatus 100B of the second modified example, thepanning motion-related structure and the driving source and the drivingforce transmission mechanism for the tilting motions provided in theassembly fixation structure 114 of the base 110 are identical with thosein the imaging apparatus 100 of the embodiment. The first through thefourth rollers 141 through 144 and the sprint unit 150 for the pivotsupport of the camera assembly 200 in the imaging apparatus 100 of theembodiment are replaced by a pair of assembly holding plates 242L and242R in the imaging apparatus 100B of the second modified example. Theassembly holding plates 242L and 242R are extended from the left andright cover splits 117L and 117R of the assembly fixation structure 114to hold the camera assembly 200 therebetween. The assembly holdingplates 242L and 242R are formed in the dome shape to cover over therespective side faces of the camera assembly 200. Radially extendedreinforcement ribs 243 are formed on the respective inner walls of theassembly holding plates 242L and 242R facing the camera assembly 200.The assembly holding plates 242L and 242R are used in combination withthe curved projections 118L and 118R on the rear side of the cameraassembly 200. The combination of the reinforcement ribs 243 with thecurved projections 118L and 118R enable the assembly holding plates 242Land 242R to rigidly support the camera assembly 200 without deflection.Each of the assembly holding plates 242L and 242R has a circular steprecess 244 formed along its periphery on the side facing the cameraassembly 200. The circumferential steps 240 formed along the outercircumference on both sides of the frame casing 210 of the cameraassembly 200 are fitted in the respective circular step recesses 244 ofthe assembly holding plates 242L and 242R. The circular step recess 244is formed in a specific shape for receiving the circumferential step 240except the area covered by the left cover split 117L or the right coversplit 117R.

In the imaging apparatus 100B of the second modified example, the leftand right cover splits 117L and 117R are set on the pedestal plate unit130 of the assembly fixation structure 114 in such a manner that thecircumferential steps 240 formed on both sides of the frame casing 210of the camera assembly 200 are received in the circular step recesses244 of the assembly holding plates 242L and 242R. The assembly holdingplates 242L and 242R facing each other across the camera assembly 200pivotally support the camera assembly 200 to allow its pivotal rotationin the vertical direction about the vertical pivot support TJ, whilejoining the camera assembly 200 with the base 110. The camera assembly200 pivotally supported on the base 110 is vertically rotatable to havethe tilting motions by the combination of the arc-shaped frame geartrain 220 with the tilting rotation gear 172 and is horizontallyrotatable to have the panning motions in the same manner as the imagingapparatus 100 of the embodiment described above. In the imagingapparatus 100B of this modified structure, the assembly holding plates242L and 242R placed across the camera assembly 200 do not require thedriving force transmission mechanism for the tilting motions. Thisarrangement desirably simplifies the pivot support structure for thetilting motions of the camera assembly 200 and requires only the twothin assembly holding plates 242L and 242R reinforced with thereinforcement ribs 243. These thin assembly holding plates 242L and 242Rplaced on both sides of the camera assembly 200 desirably exert thespace-saving effect in the periphery of the camera assembly 200. In theassembly holding plates 242L and 242R, a bottom face 245 of the circularstep recess 244 is in contact with or in proximity to the end face ofthe circumferential step 240 of the camera assembly 200. Thisarrangement ensures the stable tilting motions of the camera assembly200 without inclination.

The embodiment and the modified examples discussed above are to beconsidered in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive. There maybe many other modifications, changes, and alterations without departingfrom the scope or spirit of the main characteristics of the presentinvention. For example, in the above embodiment and the modifiedexamples, the camera assembly 200 is rotatable both in the verticaldirection and in the horizontal direction to allow the tilting motionsand the panning motions of the camera 202. The technique of theinvention is also applicable to an imaging apparatus that allows onlythe tilting motions of a built-in camera. The imaging apparatus 100 isnot restrictively used as the security camera but have diversity ofother applications, for example, a web camera.

The imaging apparatus 100 of the above embodiment is placed on the tableor the similar supporting subject. The imaging apparatus 100 may besuspended from the ceiling by fastening the base 110 to the ceiling. Inthis application, the spring legs 153 of the spring unit 150 aredesigned to have the sufficient sprint force for supporting the cameraassembly 200 and pressing the camera assembly 200 against the firstthrough the fourth rollers 141 through 144.

In the imaging apparatus 100 of the above embodiment, the cameraassembly 200 has the doughnut-shaped frame casing 210. This shape is,however, not essential, but the frame casing 210 may have any othersuitable shape. FIG. 21 is a side view showing a camera assembly 200Cincluding a frame casing 210C of a different structure in an imagingapparatus 100C. In this modified example, the frame casing 210C of thecamera assembly 200C has an arc shape without a frame section above thecamera 202. The extension range of the frame casing 210C covers thevertically rotatable range of the camera 202 for the tilting motions andenables the pivot support of the camera assembly 200C on the assemblyfixation structure 114.

In the structure of the embodiment, the camera assembly 200 has thedoughnut-shaped frame casing 210. The camera assembly 200 may bemodified to have an elliptical frame casing or an oval frame casing.

The controller 300 of the imaging apparatus 100 may be modified to havethe hardware configuration in conformity with the USB (universal serialbus) standard. In this modified structure, USB connectors replace theRS-232C connectors. The controller 300 may otherwise be modified to havethe wireless or wired LAN (local area network)-based hardwareconfiguration. Such modification enables an imaging apparatus to beremotely controlled by an outside computer and to output images takenwith a built-in camera via the wireless or wired LAN.

1. An imaging apparatus comprising: a camera; a base that has a built-invertical rotation driving source to generate a driving force for pivotalrotation of the camera in the vertical direction; a ring-shaped cameraframe that encircles and holds the camera in such a manner that thecamera is positioned inside the ring-shaped frame, an imaging lens ofthe camera is exposed on an arc-shaped frame side face of the cameraframe to be directed to outside; a pivot support structure thatpivotally supports the camera frame on the base to allow pivotalrotation of the camera frame in the vertical direction about an axispassing through inside of the camera frame in a direction parallel to awidth of the camera frame; wherein the arc-shaped frame side face of thecamera frame is a circular arc-shaped frame side face which is pivotableabout a vertical pivot axis of the camera frame, which is identical withthe axis passing through the inside of the camera frame in the directionparallel to the width of the camera frame; and a vertical rotationtransmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of the verticalrotation driving source, as power of the pivotal rotation of the camerain the vertical direction, to the camera frame via the arc-shaped frameside face; wherein the pivot support structure has: a roller unit thatsupports the camera frame on its arc-shaped frame side face to allowpivotal rotation of the camera frame about the axis passing through theinside of the camera frame in the direction parallel to the width of thecamera frame; and a pressing element that presses the camera frameagainst the roller unit.
 2. The imaging apparatus in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the vertical pivot axis passes through the inside ofthe camera frame in the direction parallel to the width of the cameraframe is located on the center of gravity of the camera frame.
 3. Theimaging apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the verticalrotation transmission mechanism has: an arc-shaped frame gear trainprovided on the arc-shaped frame side face of the camera frame; abase-side gear that is provided on the base to have teeth engaging withteeth of the arc-shaped frame gear train; and a base-side driving forcetransmission module that transmits the driving force of the verticalrotation driving source to the base-side gear.